Confectionery package



Au8 5, 1969 s. c. SPARKS 'I 3,459,356

CONFECTIONERY PACKAGE med Nov. 29, 19e? E@ j 650,965 c, Smm/5 Ma/K, lm;

United States Patent O M' 3,459,356 CONFECTIONERY PACKAGE George C. Sparks, Concord House F-6, Harleysville, Pa. 19438 Filed Nov. 29, 1967, Ser. No. 686,559 Int. Cl. B65d 5/48, 1/36, 81/00, 85/36, 85/60 o U.S. Cl. 229-15 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This inventiton relates generally to a confectionery package wherein an insert for a tray or box is fabricated of flexible sheet material being cut and formed to define a plurality of cups or cup-shaped receptacles for articles of confection, and flexible connector elements or strips between proximate portions of adjacent receptacles.

Background of the invention As is well known to those versed in the art, it has been conventional for many years to employ individual paper cups having accordion like pleated side walls for containing separate pieces of candy, and the like. The candycontaining cups are snugly engaged in a relatively rigid box or tray, such that the cups impart a whimsically interesting and attractive appearance, while the crinkliness of the cups affords a sensation of freshness.

However, the operations involved in packaging confectionery products in individual paper cups are relatively expensive and time consuming. Even though substantially automated by complex equipment, it remains essential to perform the final packaging procedures by hand.

While there have, in the past, been proposed forms of multiple confectionery receptacles, say as a unit for a box or level of a box, these prior devices have been relatively expensive to manufacture, and have usually sacrificed certain of the above-noted desiderata of individual paper cups.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a confectionery package wherein a plurality of receptacles for plural articles of confection may be manufactured and handled as a unit to achieve substantial economies in the packaging operation, and further wherein the whimsical coniigurations and fresh-andcrisp sensation of individual paper receptacles are retained.

VIt is another of the present invention to provide a confectionery package including a plurality of receptacles for respective articles of confection, which receptacles may be handled as a unit, each individually affording the ease of flexure to assume the configuration of a received piece of candy, and wherein the appearance of packaged confections utilizing the instant package accurately simulates the dainty, high-quality appearance of individual-paper-cup packaging.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction 3,459,356 Patented Aug. 5, 1969 ICC hereinafter described, and of which the 'scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawing FIGURE 1 is a top plan view showing a packaging unit of the present invention apart from the remainder of the package.

FIGURE 2 is a partial top plan View of the area designated 2 in FIGURE 1, enlarged for clarity.

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 4 4 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view showing the packaging unit 0f FIGURE 1 in its operative association with a cornplete package.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional elevational view taken generally along the line 6 6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view similar to FIGURE 2, but showing a slightly modified embodiment of the present invention.

Description of the preferred embodiments Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES 1-4, a packaging component is there generally designated 10, and comprises an insert for a relatively rigid box or tray, as will appear more fully hereinafter. The insert 10 may advantageously be integrally fabricated of flexible thermoplastic sheet material, as by thermoforming and cutting.

More particularly, the insert 10 may include a plurality of upwardly opening cup-shaped receptacles, as are respectively designated 11-16. The several receptacles are arranged in adjacent, side-by-side relation, and may each be of identical size and configuration, or of different size and configuration as in the illustrated embodiment. Further the arrangement of the several receptacles may be rectangular, as illustrated, being in two rows of three receptacles each, or other suitable arrangement, as desired.

Each receptacle, such as the receptacle 11, includes a bottom wall 20, which may be generally flat and of the desired outline configuration, being generally rectangular in the illustrated embodiment. Integrally upstanding from the bottom wall 20 of the receptacle 11 is a side wall 21. The side wall 21 is advantageously formed in a fluted or pleated configuration, best seen in FIGURE 2, having a plurality of folds extending vertically upward from the bottom wall 20 to the upper extremity of the side wall. It will be observed in FIGURE 2, that alternate folds, as at 22 in the side wall 21 are folded to extend inwardly, while the remaining, intermediate folds 23 are folded t0 extend outwardly.

Extending integrally from the upper extremity of the side wall 21, peripherally thereabout, is a depending flange or skirt 25. The skirt 25 is similarly accordion pleated or liuted, having alternate inwardly extending folds 26 and the remaining, intermediate folds 27 extending outwardly. In the embodiment of FIGURE 2 it will be apparent that the outwardly extending folds 23 of the side wall 21 are in substantial end-to-end alignment with the inwardly extending folds of skirt 25, and that the inwardly extending folds 22 of the side wall are in substantial alignment 3 with the outwardly extending folds 27 of the skirt. This results in a somewhat flattened diamond-like configuration on the upper edge 28 defining the juncture of the side wall 21 and skirt 25.

The remaining receptacles -16 are all of similar construction. For example, receptacle 12 is of generally circular construction, including a generally circular, substantially flat bottom wall 30 and an integral upstanding peripherally extending side wall 31. Extending circumferentially about and integrally depending from the upper edge of the side wall 31 is a peripheral skirt 32. The side wall 31 and skirt 32 are uted or formed with accordionlike, generally vertically extending pleats. The receptacle 13 is similarly formed, including a generally at, substantially oval-shaped bottom wall 35 and an integrally upstanding peripherally extending side wall 36, from the upper edge of which depends a peripherally extending skirt 37. The receptacle side wall 36 and skirt 37 are both advantageously formed with generally vertically extending pleats or flutes. The remaining receptacles 14-16 are similarly constructed.

As the insert 10 is advantageously fabricated by thermoforming a single sheet of thermoplastic material, the several receptacles 11-16 are separated by cutting of the receptacle skirts along their lower edges. For example, the skirt 25 of receptacle 11 is severed or cut along its lower edge 38, while the skirt 37 of receptacle 13 is severed along its lower edge 39. However, there remain connector elements or strips, as at 40-46 connecting adjacent portions of eacli adjacent pair of receptacles 11-16. For example, connector element or strip 40 connects proximate portions of adjacent receptacles 11 and 12, strip 41 connecting proximate portions of receptacles 12 and 13, strip 42 connecting proximate portions of receptacles 11 and 14, etc.

In particular, each connector element or strip may be integral with and extend between adjacent lower edge portions of adjacent skirts. Thus, the connector element or strip 40 extends between adjacent lower edge portions of adjacent skirts 25 and 32 of receptacles 11 and 12, while connector strip or element 41 extends integrally between adjacent lower edge portions of skirts 32 and 37 of adjacent receptacles 12 and 13.

In practice, subsequent to or substantially concurrent with the thernioforming operation, the formed sheet may be severed along the lower edges of the several skirts, leaving only the receptacles 11-16 and their connecting elements or strips 40-46.

By reason of the flexibility of the material of insert 10 the several receptacles 11-16 may each be distended; contracted, or distorted or shaped to assume any desired configuration. Further, the overall shape and size of the unit 10 may be considerably varied and rearranged as by manipulation of the several receptacles relative to each other.

In the completed package of FIGURES 5 and 6, there generally designated 50, there is included a relatively stiff or rigid tray or box 51, which is shown as of generally rectangular configuration, but which may assume other configurations, as desired. The tray or box 51 may include a generally flat bottom wall 52, and a relatively rigid upstanding, peripherally extending side wall 53. Contained in each receptacle 11-16 is an article of confection, as at 54-59. The insert 10 and its contents 54-59 are longitudinally and laterally compressed for conforming engagement in the tray 51. That is, the insert 10 and its contents rests on the tray bottom wall 52 in conforming engagement with the peripheral side wall 53 of the tray. By the use of existing automatic machinery, the insert 10 may be filled with its contents 54-59, and the filled insert placed in the tray, completely without manual handling.

When the filled insert 10 is disposed within the tray 51, it will be appreciated that the several receptacles 11-16 each snugly receives its respective article of contents, and

that the receptacle skirts are deflected inward. Effectively, this presents to the consumers view only the upper edges of the several receptacle side walls, so as to conceal the connecting elements or strips 40-46 and afford an accurate simulation of the conventional paper candy cups. Further, the material of the insert 10 may be sufficiently frangible, so that individual receptacles may be removed from the tray 51, as by severance of the connector elements without disturbing the remaining receptacles. Toward this end, the connector elements may be notched, serrated or otherwise weakened.

Referring now to FIGURE 7, there is shown a slightly modified embodiment wherein a receptacle 11a includes a generally flat bottom wall 20a, an integral upstanding peripherally extending side wall 21a, and a peripheral skirt 25a depending integrally from the upper edge of the side wall. The side Wall 21a and its skirt 25a are formed with generally vetrically extending pleats, flutes or folds for free flexure of the receptacle. However, the inwardly extending folds 22a of the side wall 21a are in substantial end-to-end alignment with the inwardly extending folds 26a of the skirt 25a. Correspondingly, the outwardly extending folds 23a of the side wall 21a are in substantial end-to-end alignment with the outwardly extending folds 27a of the skirt 25a. This produces a relatively sharp, zigzag upper edge or juncture 28a of the side -wall 21a and 25a, if desired.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a package construction for confections which fully accomplishes its intended objects, is well adapted to conditions of manufacture, filling, and use by the consumer.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A confectionery package comprising a relatively rigid tray; and an insert in said tray for receiving articles of confection, said insert being fabricated of flexible sheet material and comprising a plurality of upwardly opening cup-shaped receptacles arranged in adjacent side-by-side relation and each having a bottom and peripheral side wall for receiving an article of confection, a plurality of flexible connector strips each connected between proximate sidewall portions of an adjacent pair of Said receptacles, and a skirt of flexible sheet material depending from the upper edge of each receptacle side wall, said connector strips each extending between proximate skirt portions of an adjacent pair of said receptacles, for effective concealment of said connector strips between adjacent receptacles.

2. A confectionery package according to claim 1, said skirts each extending peripherally about the respective receptacle side wall and combining therewith to present a uniform upper side-wall edge.

3. A confectionery package according to claim 2, said receptacle side walls and skirts being formed with generally vertically extending pleats, to facilitate expansion, contraction and ilexure of said side walls and skirts.

4. A confectionery package according to claim 2, said skirts each terminating at its lower edge short of the lower end of the adjacent receptacle side wall.

5. A confectionery package according to claim 2, said insert receptacles, skirts and connector strips being integrally formed of thermoplastic sheet material.

6. A confectionary package according to claim 2, said receptacle side walls and skirts being formed with generally vertically extending folds, the inward and outward folds of each side wall and its associated skirt tbeing respectively aligned to present at their juncture a relatively sharp upper edge.

7. A confectionary package according to claim 2, said receptacle side walls and skirts being formed with gen- 5 6 erally vertically extending folds, the inward folds of each FOREIGN PATENTS side Wall being substantially aligned With the outward folds of the associated Skirt to present at their juncture a 962,237 4/ 1957 Germanysomewhat flattened upper edge. 1,042,429 9/ 1966 Great Britain.

References Cited 5 DAVIS T. MOORI-IEAD, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS UIS. CL XR.

3,262,786 7/1966 Weiss 229-25 XR 

